National Anthem at GAA games

**superfrank** · 18/06/2007, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by pete

The way opposition fans try to out do each other by cheering for their team before the end of the anthem so the anthem is drowned out. It starts with maybe 30 seconds to go & seems to start earlier every year.

If they start before the end of the words, I'd consider it disrespectful but if they start it just after, I don't mind.

**pete** · 18/06/2007, 1:20 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

pete, why do you watch these matches when you dont even like GAA?

I had the TV on in the background when i think Donegal v Tyrone came on...

**bennocelt** · 18/06/2007, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Also the fact that it's only a blinkin song

I mean, what does it really represent in this day and age??

Are you serious?

**John83** · 18/06/2007, 5:51 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Are you serious?

Why wouldn't he be?

**Lim till i die** · 18/06/2007, 8:48 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Are you serious?

Yes......................

**geysir** · 18/06/2007, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Any chance the GAA could cut down on the cheering & shouting before the National Anthem is finished?

Republicans me arse. Its disrespectful & insulting.

The GAA should take a leaf out of the way the Anthem was sung for foreign games at Croke Park in particular the Ireland v England rugby international.

Republican has nothing to do with it.
You are dead right about the cheering being disrespectful and insulting, the humming is bad enough.
IMO, AnbF should be restricted to all Ireland finals and maybee at provincial finals.
You can't reasonably compare anthems at inter county games to the Internationals, still should be respected though.

**bennocelt** · 19/06/2007, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Yes......................

its our national anthem thats why,
i suppose you have no respect for our flag too (the one with the three colours by the way

**endabob1** · 19/06/2007, 10:45 AM

Interesting topic, I wonder how many people would be in favour of a change in Anthem? "Mid Cannons roar & Rifles peal we'll chant a soldiers song" It's hardly the words for or representative of the "new" Ireland.
Personally I wouldn't be bothered if it changed, but what to would be the question.....

**John83** · 19/06/2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

its our national anthem thats why,
i suppose you have no respect for our flag too (the one with the three colours by the way

Not everyone pays mindless respect to a few patches of colour just because it 'represents' the arbitrary nation state they were born in.

**geysir** · 19/06/2007, 2:23 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Not everyone pays mindless respect to a few patches of colour just because it 'represents' the arbitrary nation state they were born in.

We are talking about mindfull respect and mindless disrespect.

**John83** · 19/06/2007, 4:17 PM

Because of course there's nothing between.

**Torn-Ado** · 19/06/2007, 4:41 PM

Originally Posted by endabob1

Interesting topic, I wonder how many people would be in favour of a change in Anthem? "Mid Cannons roar & Rifles peal we'll chant a soldiers song" It's hardly the words for or representative of the "new" Ireland.
Personally I wouldn't be bothered if it changed, but what to would be the question.....

Nationals anthems are outdated across the world but they're the national anthem. They wont change. Scotland, Sweden, American, Danish, all written in the past about historical wars etc.

You cant just change the anthem to suit a period of time Ffs

**John83** · 19/06/2007, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

You cant just change the anthem to suit a period of time Ffs

Why not?

I notice the Germans have changed the words to theirs for some reason. Hey, maybe that's the extreme case, but the Australians changed theirs - for some reason, they no longer want God to save their Queen! The Russians changed theirs too. They're no longer fans of the unbreakable union of the Soviet state, Lenin only knows why. The Ukranians changed theirs because they thought it was a bit too depressing. DEPRESSING? Bloody hell! At least it isn't a soldier's song.

On a lighter note, Bill Bailey thinks the British anthem needs to be changed.

**Torn-Ado** · 19/06/2007, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Why not?

I notice the Germans have changed the words to theirs for some reason. Hey, maybe that's the extreme case, but the Australians changed theirs - for some reason, they no longer want God to save their Queen! The Russians changed theirs too. They're no longer fans of the unbreakable union of the Soviet state, Lenin only knows why. The Ukranians changed theirs because they thought it was a bit too depressing. DEPRESSING? Bloody hell! At least it isn't a soldier's song.

On a lighter note, Bill Bailey thinks the British anthem needs to be changed.

All of those countries were going through massive changes in their country. End of Communism/Nazism etc. And Australia only got their own, not borrowing someone elses.

It just wouldnt be feasible to change the anthem.

**superfrank** · 19/06/2007, 5:07 PM

I think the best way to make the anthem inoffensive is to remove the lyrics. Whoever wants to sing them can, if they can remember them.

**bennocelt** · 19/06/2007, 6:20 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Not everyone pays mindless respect to a few patches of colour just because it 'represents' the arbitrary nation state they were born in.

no, you are right must countries dont have flags, or anthems or nations

**John83** · 19/06/2007, 6:36 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

no, you are right must countries dont have flags, or anthems or nations

You support the war in Iraq?

EDIT: Oh, wait, what I just wrote has no relevance at all to what I quoted. Silly me.

**geysir** · 19/06/2007, 7:29 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Because of course there's nothing between.

You would have to explain better about the inbetween response bit.

In the context of the anthem being played at games, if you don't like the anthem or don't relate to it at all or feel down to your bones that you just happen to be born in this country because the stork ran out of steam, then what would be an appropriate response? - imo probably respectfull silence.

For me, I can respect our past, I don't live in it. National identity does not fit into just one uniform.

**Superhoops** · 19/06/2007, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

I think the best way to make the anthem inoffensive is to remove the lyrics. Whoever wants to sing them can, if they can remember them.

The whole point of an anthem is the lyrics, the music is secondary.

I may be old fashioned, but I take great pride in singing Amhran na bhFiann when it is played at any sporting event.

Whether you agree with the words is irrelevant, the national anthem of any country is something that every citizen of that country should be proud of.

When I lived in London watching GAA games in pubs on a Sunday, it used to irritate the english in the pub like mad, when the 'paddies' spontaneously got to their feet and stood for our national anthem, even if many of them did not sing it.

It disappoints me the quite large number of Irish people who do not know the words of AnbF.

A good friend of mine with whom I have being going to Ireland matches for twenty years or more, still does not know the words or makes no effort to read them from the programme or from the big screen at CP. Strangely enough, we went to a funeral recently and he was quite happy to pick up a hymn book and attempt to sing a hymn when he neither knew the words to or the tune!

Still, if people can't be bothered then that is up to themselves. I will be happy enough as long as at international soccer games and GAA games we never resort to 'Ireland's Call' or any other such condescending PC crap. I'd nearly rather sing GSTQ!